Psychology today reveals that the human mind has an automatic mental filter that tells it what to focus on and what to ignore. Our mind has evolved to notice what looks new, what’s different from the norm, and anything unusual in our environment so we can quickly spot potential dangers—like a rustling bush signaling the presence of a predator—or opportunities to hunt or gather food. This means our minds automatically block out the information we don’t need right now, like background noise when we’re focused on having a conversation with someone else in the room. The Power of Thinking: How Our Thoughts Distract Us From Reality
But if you’re like me…
But if you’re like me, you sometimes get lost in your thoughts and forget to focus on the present moment. It’s easy to do, especially when we’re worried or stressed about something. And while it’s normal to have an occasional daydream, when our thoughts start to control us, it can be detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Studies show that every time we’re interrupted by a thought, it takes up to 20 minutes for our mind to go back into a relaxed state. And with so many interruptions happening each day – from phone notifications, emails, work demands – the consequences can add up quickly.
When I started meditating I noticed that my feelings of anxiety decreased dramatically because I was spending more time focused on my breath instead of random thoughts. The Power of Thinking: How Our Thoughts Distract Us From Reality
The problem with our thoughts
Thoughts are powerful things. They can control our emotions and shape our reality. But sometimes, our thoughts can get in the way of our ability to see the world clearly. We might dwell on negative experiences or dwell on what could have been. This can prevent us from living in the present moment and enjoying life. So, instead of worrying about tomorrow, enjoy today!
Exercise is one of the best ways to clear your mind and create a healthier future for yourself. And if you’re feeling like you need some help with your thoughts, there’s no shame in getting professional help. With some time and effort, you’ll be able to look back at this moment with gratitude rather than regret.
Why does it happen?
It’s no secret that our thoughts can be powerful things. But did you know that they can actually distract us from reality? It’s true! Psychology says that man is distracted by the power of thinking. Here’s why it happens we take what we’re thinking about, and give it more weight than we should. In turn, we put less weight on the real world around us, which means our minds have less attention to spare for anything else happening in the moment.
In other words, when you get wrapped up in your own head space, you start to lose touch with what’s really going on around you – whether or not those distractions are good or bad at the time doesn’t matter; without even realizing it, we often let ourselves get pulled away from what needs to be done here and now.
What can we do about it?
1. Acknowledge that our thoughts can be powerful distractions.
2. Be aware of when we’re getting lost in our thoughts.
3. Come back to the present moment.
4. Practice mindfulness meditation or another form of mindfulness practice.
5. Accept that thoughts are just thoughts, not reality.
6. Don’t believe everything we think!
7. cultivate a healthy sense of skepticism towards our own thoughts.
An Exercise in Awareness.
Take a moment to close your eyes and simply observe the thoughts that enter your mind. Don’t judge them, or try to push them away. Just let them be and notice how they come and go. You may be surprised at how many thoughts you have in a day! We think about what we’re going to do when we get home from work, what we’re going to cook for dinner, and so on. And those are just little ones that make up a large percentage of our thinking. But then there are the big ones—questions like What is the meaning of life? That’s where things can get tricky.
Q.&A.
Do our thoughts really have the power to distract us from reality? According to psychology, the answer is yes. Our thoughts can influence our perceptions and interpretations of events, which can lead us to draw inaccurate conclusions. An example would be if a friend was in an argument with someone else at work. If that person told you about it, they might not tell you everything that happened or only tell you their side of the story. In this way, our thoughts are able to make us believe something happened that didn’t actually happen.